Rail or road? Campaigners plan march over airport link plans
Campaigners are calling for a major re-think on multi-million pound plans for a new airport link road.
Campaigners are calling for a major re-think on multi-million pound plans for a new airport link road.
Two of the three options put forward by Leeds City Council involve the creation of new roads, while the third involves improving existing junctions.
But campaign group Save Leeds Green Belt are asking why councillors are looking at roads when the airport still doesn't have a rail link.
"These plans are proposed to help the airport expand and help Yorkshire become a global business hub and so on," says Joel Kaufman, a Horsforth resident who helps run the group.
"The massive elephant in the room is there's no airport rail link. In my opinion it's inappropriate to consider spending ÂŁ74 million on building a new road through lush green belt.
"A rail link would open up the entire region to international business travellers who don't bring a car with them when they fly in from other major global business hubs.
"It would provide the connectivity options that don't destroy the region's remaining and ever-dwindling green belt and that's what we're trying to protect."
The group are marching in Horsforth tomorrow morning to raise awareness that the council's consultation on the proposals will end on 26 February.
Campaigners will walk from Horsforth Hall Park along the A65 to Rawdon Crematorium, calling for residents to look at the proposals and have their say.
Two of the three options put forward by the Council to improve connectivity to the airport involve building a new road from the A65; both plans take different routes, with the first costing up to ÂŁ75 million and the second costing up to ÂŁ50 million.
The third option is to upgrade the existing A65 and A658 around Rawdon and Yeadon to the airport. This is the least expensive option costing up to ÂŁ15million.
Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said:
“Leeds Bradford Airport is a key part of our current and future city and regional economy, so it is essential we hear the views of as many people as possible before making decisions around improving access and tackling local congestion problems.”